Foreign Affairs

Erasmus+ celebrates its 35th anniversary (20.01.2022)

In 2022, the Erasmus+ programme is celebrating its 35th anniversary, a fitting opening to the European Year of Youth. This anniversary celebration coincides with the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Since 1987, 12 million European citizens have availed of Erasmus+. In addition to people in higher education, the programme also accommodates a range of other profiles. Each year, 100,000 French students do an Erasmus+ exchange. Erasmus+, 35 years of European exchanges (...)

Updated: Thu Jan 20 2022

Israel / Palestinian territories - Statement by spokespersons of the Foreign ministries of France, Germany, Italy and Spain (

We are deeply concerned at the decision to advance plans for the construction of hundreds of new housing units in East-Jerusalem, including between Givat HaMatos and Har Homa. The new housing units would further disconnect the West Bank from East Jerusalem and constitute an additional obstacle to the two-State Solution. We urge the Israeli authorities to reverse this decision. This decision directly threatens the viability of a future Palestinian state. Israeli settlements are in clear (...)

Updated: Thu Jan 20 2022

President Biden Announces Key Regional Appointments for USDA, FEMA, and HUD

WASHINGTON - Today, President Joe Biden appointed the following individuals to serve in key regional leadership roles at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): These regional appointees will be critical to the President's...

Updated: Thu Jan 20 2022

Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, January 20, 2022

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room 1:52 P.M. EST MS. PSAKI: Hi, everyone. Happy one year anniversary. Q And to you. MS. PSAKI: Time flies. I'm sure it has for all of you. Okay, I don't have anything at the top, so let's kick off with your questions. Q Okay. Thank you. Just a couple questions about yesterday. MS. PSAKI: ...

Updated: Thu Jan 20 2022

Press Release: Nominations Sent to the Senate

Elizabeth Frawley Bagley, of Florida, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Federative Republic of Brazil. Jane Hartley, of New York, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Alexander Mark...

Updated: Thu Jan 20 2022

Readout of Listening Session on Addressing Barriers to Competition and Innovation in Tech

Today, the White House convened a listening session with entrepreneurs and small and mid-sized businesses about the importance of an innovative, dynamic tech sector and fair competition. The meeting focused on the challenges entrepreneurs, brick-and-mortar retailers, and other businesses face competing in sectors dominated by a few large platforms. Promoting competition-including in the tech sector-is...

Updated: Thu Jan 20 2022

Readout of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's Call with Secretary General of Japan's National Security Secretariat Aki

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke today with Akiba Takeo, Secretary General of Japan's National Security Secretariat, to prepare for the President's meeting on January 21 with Prime Minister Kishida and to discuss the ongoing situation in Russia and Ukraine. The two discussed key issues in the U.S.-Japan Alliance, and our respective approaches to North Korea,...

Updated: Thu Jan 20 2022

Statement by NSC Spokesperson Emily Horne on National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's Call with B9 Counterparts

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke today with National Security Advisors, Foreign Ministers, and other officials from the Bucharest Nine (B9) group of our eastern flank NATO Allies. Mr. Sullivan briefed on U.S. diplomatic efforts related to Russia's destabilizing military buildup along Ukraine's border, including Secretary Blinken's upcoming meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov, and welcomed continued close...

Updated: Thu Jan 20 2022

Tonga - France stands ready to meet the population's urgent needs (19 Jan. 2022)

France stands ready to meet the Tongan people's most pressing needs through the FRANZ mechanism for the regional coordination of humanitarian assistance in the event of natural disasters in the Pacific Island nations. All possible measures are being taken - coordinated by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs' Crisis and Support Center (CDCS) - to deploy reconnaissance flights operated by the New Caledonian Armed Forces (FANC) to gather information and aerial views of disaster zones, (...)

Updated: Thu Jan 20 2022

United Arab Emirates - Statement by the Spokesperson for the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (Jan. 19, 2022)

Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, spoke by phone with his Emirati counterpart, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, to express France's solidarity and support following the January 17th attack on Abu Dhabi, for which the Houthis claimed responsibility. The minister condemned these deadly attacks in the strongest possible terms and reiterated the need for the Houthis to end their disruptive actions in Yemen and in the region and to engage in a comprehensive, inclusive (...)

Updated: Thu Jan 20 2022

FACT SHEET: President Biden and Vice President Harris Delivered Results for Working Families in First Year

FACT SHEET:President Biden and Vice President Harris Delivered Results for Working Families in First Year When President Biden and Vice President Harris took office one year ago, our country faced unprecedented crises. From the raging pandemic, economic turmoil, ongoing climate change, and persistent racial injustice, the President and Vice President promised to move quickly, tackle...

Updated: Wed Jan 19 2022

FACT SHEET: President Biden Signs National Security Memorandum to Improve the Cybersecurity of National Security, Department

Today, President Biden signed a National Security Memorandum (NSM) to improve the cybersecurity of National Security, Department of Defense, and Intelligence Community Systems, as required in his Executive Order (E.O) 14028, Improving the Nation's Cybersecurity. This NSM requires that, at minimum, National Security Systems employ the same network cybersecurity measures as those required of federal...

Updated: Wed Jan 19 2022

Fast Facts: Record Firsts in President Biden's First Year

President Biden and Vice President Harris delivered results for the American people in their first year in office. The President and Vice President made history growing our economy, addressing the climate crisis, and building a judiciary and government that represents America. Despite unprecedented challenges, 2021 was a year of record progress for working families. Jobs:...

Updated: Wed Jan 19 2022

Global health - A billion vaccine doses have been delivered with COVAX (18 Jan. 22)

COVAX is the vaccines pillar of ACT-A [Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator], the international initiative run by the World Health Organization aimed at coordinating a global response to COVID-19 which is fair and mutually supportive. Fair, because it would be intolerable for some people to have access to resources for tackling the pandemic, such as tests, vaccines and treatments, and others not to. Mutually supportive, because the virus knows no borders and it is in everyone's interest (...)

Updated: Wed Jan 19 2022

Nominations Sent to the Senate

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE: Tiffany M. Cartwright, of Washington, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Washington, vice Benjamin Hale Settle, retired. Nusrat Jahan Choudhury, of New York, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of New York, vice Joseph Frank Bianco, elevated. Ana...

Updated: Wed Jan 19 2022

President Biden Announces Host City for Ninth Summit of the Americas

The vital national interests of the United States are inextricably bound to the fortunes of our closest neighbors in the Americas. To that end, the ability of our democracies to close the gap between what we promise and what we deliver depends in no small part on what we do, together, to make it better....

Updated: Wed Jan 19 2022

President Biden Announces Nominees for Ambassadors and Key Roles

WASHINGTON - Today, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate the following leaders to serve as key leaders in his administration: Elizabeth Bagley, Nominee for Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Federative Republic of Brazil Jane Hartley, Nominee for Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Alexander...

Updated: Wed Jan 19 2022

President Biden Names Thirteenth Round of Judicial Nominees

The President is announcing eight new federal judicial nominees, all of whom are extraordinarily qualified, experienced, and devoted to the rule of law and our Constitution. These choices also continue to fulfill the President's promise to ensure that the nation's courts reflect the diversity that is one of our greatest assets as a country -...

Updated: Wed Jan 19 2022

Statement by White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki on President Biden's Meeting with Bipartisan Senators on Ukraine

This morning President Biden met virtually with a bipartisan group of senators to discuss Russia's military build-up on Ukraine's borders. The group included senators who returned yesterday from a Congressional delegation to Ukraine, where they met with Ukrainian leadership and affirmed the United States' longstanding bipartisan support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. President Biden...

Updated: Wed Jan 19 2022